Celebrating the life of William Woods Cotterman

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Obituary for William Woods Cotterman

William Woods Cotterman, age 81 passed away Thursday, May 25, 2017. Born December 16, 1935, in Dallas, TX, he was the son of the late Robert William and Elizabeth Amelia Woods Cotterman. William is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kennethe Payne Cotterman; son, John Poe; daughters, Lisa Cotterman and her husband, Gerald Green, Kay Cotterman, and Dana Cotterman Levy and her husband, Benjamin; grandchildren, Jennifer Smith, Lauran Harman, Zane Harman, Sarah Levy, Emily Levy, Lily Green, and Alena Cotterman; great grandchildren, Lexi Smith and Violet; and many more loving family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, William Robert Cotterman.

An appointee to the US Naval Academy, William served in the Naval Reserve. William earned a Bachelor of Science from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1958, Master of Science from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1963, and Doctor of Philosophy from Georgia State University in 1969. William founded the Computer Information Systems Department at Georgia State University and was its first full time Chairman. He also served as Professor and Chair Emeritus of Computer Information Systems at Georgia State University. Bill wrote seven books and a number of articles on information systems–related subjects and one book of historical non-fiction.

William worked in many countries in the Middle East and lived in the area for a total of three years. In 1973, he took a leave of absence to work in Kuwait on an input-output analysis of the economy that led eventually to the establishment of Kuwait’s national accounts. Subsequent assignments in the Middle East came from USIA, United Nations Development Programme, National Science Foundation, and American University in Beirut Services Corporation, in addition to private companies. President Carter appointed him to a Committee on White House Information Systems to analyze and make recommendations on the use of computers and information technology within the Executive Office of the President. He continued to study Arabic and remained an ardent traveler.

Bill was a volunteer with Hospice Atlanta, since 1990. He was a member of the Association Computing Machinery (regional representative 1976-1980), and the Appalachian Trail Club. Bill and Kenneth have been active supporters of the Task Force of the Homeless.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 3 at 1:00 pm at Shallowford Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to Shallowford Presbyterian Church.

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